dependency

Noun
Synonyms: dependencedependanceaddictionhabituationcolony

WordNet 3.0

Noun (3)

  1. the state of relying on or being controlled by someone or something elseSynonyms: dependencedependance
  2. being abnormally tolerant to and dependent on something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming (especially alcohol or narcotic drugs)Synonyms: addictiondependencedependancehabituation
  3. a geographical area politically controlled by a distant countrySynonyms: colony
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Dependency \De*pend"en*cy\, n.; pl. Dependencies.

1.State of being dependent; dependence; state of being subordinate; subordination; concatenation; connection; reliance; trust. [1913 Webster]

Any long series of action, the parts of which have very much dependency each on the other.— Sir J. Reynolds.[1913 Webster]
So that they may acknowledge their dependency on the crown of England.— Bacon.[1913 Webster]

2.A thing hanging down; a dependence. [1913 Webster]

3.That which is attached to something else as its consequence, subordinate, satellite, and the like. [1913 Webster]

This earth and its dependencies.— T. Burnet.[1913 Webster]
Modes I call such complex ideas which . . . are considered as dependencies on or affections of substances.— Locke.[1913 Webster]

4.A territory remote from the kingdom or state to which it belongs, but subject to its dominion; a colony; as, Great Britain has its dependencies in Asia, Africa, and America. [1913 Webster]

Note: Dependence is more used in the abstract, and dependency in the concrete. The latter is usually restricted in meaning to 3 and 4. [1913 Webster]

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